Where is Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is the gateway to Arnhemland. The sealed roads from Darwin to Kakadu is via the Arnhem Highway and from Katherine to Kakadu National Park via the Kakadu Highway. The Bowali Visitor Centre near Jabiru in Kakadu National Park is located 257 km from Darwin in Northern Territory Australia via the Arnhem Highway entrance. If travelling by road, you should allow 3 hours travelling time from Darwin.

Kakadu is the second largest national park in the world and and is home to approximate number of species: Mammals: 62, Reptiles: 123+, Birds: 280, Freshwater Fish: 51, Insects: 10,000, Frogs: 25, Plants: 1,275. (many are rare and occur only in Kakadu)

Camping Tours and Safaris to Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory Australia

There are numerous tour companies offering Camping Tours and Safaris to Kakadu National Park from Darwin in the Northern Territory that depart daily or have scheduled tours and private tours. Camping tours are often called Camping Safaris or Camping Tours often indicating the same type of tour components.

Scheduled Tours - are tours that leave on a daily, or nomiinated days of the week or weekly scheduled departure. All tours require a minimum number of passengers to commence and in peak season this never seems to be a concern. They are all guided with a tour driver who is also the guide and cook. Group particpation is part of the fun and getting to know the other travellers in your tour.

Guided Tours - Camping tours from Darwin have accredited guides as the Northern Territory Parks authority is very strigent on guides. Northern territory has a high calibre of guides who have excellent local knowledge of cultural significance, history, flora and fauna. Usually you fing a guide may have a hobby and be a local expert in a particular field like flora, bush medicine plants, birds, retiles or Aboriginal Culture which makes the tour that little bit more interesting.

Scheduled Tours with Semi Permanent Tents and Camps - Tours can range from one day to a week and can be camping and sleeping in budget twin or quad share permanent or semi permanant tents. Semi permanent tents are usually smaller 2 to 3 person dome tents you have to help erect your self. There generally is permanent cooking facilities and purpose-built fire pits, screened eating areas, share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Tours with Safari in Style Camping Tents - Then you also have the local class of 'Safari in Style' tents which are tents usually with a metal frame bed and fan and very roomy. There generally is permanent cooking facilities and purpose-built fire pits, screened eating areas, share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Tours with Swags and Bushcamping - Then there are those tours that prefer to sleep under the stars in swags (Aussie bedroll), this is called generally Bush Camping - no facilities other than those that are carried on the vehicle. Toilet stops are always on the agenda of course. Some camps have share showers and toilets.

Scheduled Backpacker Tours - One tends to see this word 'Backpacker' used very sparingly lately in the tour industry. To me a backpacker tour is nowdays a budget minded camping or accommodated tour a fun component included in the itinerary. These tours historically have targeted the ages of 18-35's though nodays it's creeping up to early 40's and as long as your fit and agile with a happy outlook your welcomed with most 'Backpacker Tours'. There is the odd tour operator who recommends the age guidleine to 18-35 and these are easy to see looking for a tour.

Private Tours also known as Customized Tours, Personalised Safari, Personalized Tours, Chartered Tours and Exclusive Tours, - If you have specific points of interest the tour operator and even the guides on route can personally create a Tour to suit your individual requirements.

Hosted and Guided Tours - Usually part of a scheduled guided tour that also has the driver and a second person being the host/guide as well.

2WD Coster Buses, 2WD Coach Touring Vehicles used by Tour operators to Kakadu National Park

There are 2WD Coaster Bus tours which carry up to 16-22 passengers. Then there are also the larger 38-45 seat coaches with and without onboard cassette toilets.

4WD - 4 Wheeel Drive Drive Touring Vehicles to Kakadu National Park

There are the different 3 main types of 4WD (4 Wheel Drive) tours. The first which carry 9 Passengers in a Troopcarrier (3 in the front and 8 in the back on 2 bench seats that are side facing each other).

The second is the larger front facing seated 4WD such as the Oka's, Canters, Mitsubishi or Isuzu - 16, 17 or 20 seats front facing air-conditioned vehicle. These tend to have spacious cabs with ample legroom and forward facing seats for increased comfort and a better view for greater appreciation of the scenery.

The third is the luxury Prado or Landcruiser being 5 or 8 front facing seat vehicles.

What to do, what see, what to experience in Kakadu National Park

Essential experiences to consider are taking a cruise on the tranquil waters of the yellow Water Billabong to view the overwhelming prolific birdlife. Then witness a spectacular sunset over the Arnhemland Escarpment 'say' from Ubirr. A must is to view the Aboriginal rock art at Nourlangie Rock. The see kakadu from the air with a scenic flight, especially in the 'Green Season' and the tremendous volumes of water coming off the waterfalls on the Arnhemland Escarpement. Take one or more of the treks and hikes tracks throughout kakadu national park (make sure you tick off all the requirements first). Above all educate yourself properly on the culture of the parks people, flora and fauna by visiting both the Bowali Centre in Jabiru and the Warradjen Cultural Centre in Cooinda.

Opening hours of Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is open 365 days per year. Given the large size of Kakadu there are a number of key attractions that have different operating hours these are:

* Bowali Visitor Centre - is open from 8am to 5pm.
* Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre - is open from 9am to 5pm.
* Ubirr Rock - is open from 8:30am until sunset from 1 April until 30 November
* Ubirr Rock - is also open from 2pm until sunset from 1 December until 31 March.
* Nourlangie Rock - is open from dawn until dusk.

All of the attractions are open every day of the year and all times are Central Standard Time. These are based on the season 2006/7.